Midem & MidemNet News Roundup

UPDATED:
The music industry action shifts to Cannes this week and music’s top international trade fair MIDEM as well as its sister digital gathering MidemNet.

Here’s a roundup of the news and announcements so far:

• Sony Ericsson has signed deals with Sony BMG, Warner Music Group, EMI, The Orchard, IODA, The PocketGroup, Hungama, X5Music, Bonnier Amigo and VidZone for its PlayNow mobile download service.
• China promises to crackdown on internet piracy.

"People are prepared to pay for quality. As long as we keep screwing around with our audience, we aren’t going to win," – veteran UK concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith @ MidemNet.

• A promised launch by ad supported P2P Qtrax amid doubts about its claim to have contracts with all four major labels.  Here’s the latest on Qtrax and links to background and commentary.
• Vivendi Chief Levy said in a keynote that music industry doom and gloom is over done and don’t count the CD out yet.
• RoyaltyShare has added a digital distribution service charging just 5% in direct competition to digital aggregators like The Orchard and IODA.  We also have an exclusive interview with RoyaltyShare COO Steve Grady.

"The majors have changed the way they market music, now they have to work out how to change the music that they market," – Steve Greenberg, CEO, S-Curve Records @ MidemNet

• Indies and indie trade groups in at least 10 markets are joining together of a worldwide Independence Day music promotion
• A year after its launch at MIDEM ’07 Merlin, a global rights body for independents, has opened its doors to labels, music distributors and aggregators at no cost
• SonyBMG execs say that 2009 will be the tipping point for digital music and back unlimited download services

“It’s not about suing consumers anymore, it’s about serving them; music is not being devalued, it’s being revalued.” – Ted Cohen, TAG @ MidemNet